Twitter Updates 2.2: FeedWitter

Friday, February 28, 2014

Our Rating: 3 1/2 starsMohab Aal Ghaanem once
had Jala Aal Masood and lost her. Now, as a new king, he can end the
explosive feud between their kingdoms, and fulfill his parting pledge to
the princess of Judar that he would make her his wife.

Marry
Mohab? Six years ago, the prince risked his life to save Jala, igniting
her desires only to betray her trust. Now the ruthless seducer is
forcing her into a sham marriage. Will it mean a second chance with the
man she still craves or heartbreak when all their dark secrets are
revealed?

There were a lot of things that I really liked about this book. For one, the cover definitely grabs your attention! I loved all the details given in this book about the surroundings, it was very exotic and I could picture the setting in my mind as I read! I liked both Mohab & Jala, to a point, but I wish that there would had been more to the story. I was surprised that Mohab was the one that was really pushing for the relationship and who was sure that he was in love with her. I liked that it made this book a little bit different than other romances I've read lately tho. I did think that cat thing was really weird...trust me, you'll know what I'm talking about if you read it!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE IS BAD WHEN YOU MISS YOUR DAYS AS A POISON TASTER...

With
her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family
she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though
she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia.
Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound
friends and relatives don't think it's for the better....

Despite
the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as
she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But
her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to
reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful
rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough,
it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has
some old friends to help her with all her new enemies...

I can honestly say that I loved absolutely everything about this book! Yelena continues to showcase her abilities & I loved watching her explore new magical abilities while also adjusting to a new land. As she is reunited with her family she struggles with her inability to remember them & with the fact that her brother, Leif, seems to hate her. Leif is convinced that she is a spy and practically hands her over to Cahil, who believes he is the true King of Ixia. After she is finally able to make it to the Citadel (where she will receive her magical training) she discovers that not everyone trusts her or her growing abilities.

As Yelena interacts with Cahil throughout the book I started to get worried that Snyder was going to create some sort of love triangle. There were glimpses of Cahil actually being a good guy, but I still would have picked Valek for Yelena anyday! Unfortunately Cahil turns out to be a lot more than I was expected & I ended up hating him before the book was through. There were some great scenes between him, Yelena, & Valek, which I thought gave the book some intensity. Of course let's not forget the rogue magician who was kidnapping & killing female magicians, in order to steal their powers....

This book is filled with excitement on every page. Yelena is constantly involved in something & there were plenty of characters throughout the book to play her nemesis. I like how her relationship with Valek seemed a lot more natural in this book & not rushed, which I felt had been an issue towards the end of Poison Study. The book wouldn't have been complete without Ari & Janco, who had some comedic relief while also managing to make me fall in love with them for always being there for Yelena.

This book is an excellent addition to the Study series, although I must admit I loved this book even more than the first! Make sure to check out our review of book one, Poison Study, so that you don't miss anything in this exciting series!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

When Keri Daniels'
editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive
bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an
interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl
to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town—and
looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he'll grant Keri
an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high
school.

He proposes an outrageous plan—for every day she survives
with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri
can ask one question. Keri agrees; she's worked too hard to walk away
from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as
potent as the bug spray, Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart
and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little
blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes
could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether
4ever.

Everything about this book was pure perfection. I loved Keri from the very beginning & it was impossible not to see the connection she still had with Joe, even after all these years.I was a little worried at first that Joe would spend the whole book making Keri pay for the past & I was relieved as soon as I realized that wasn't the case. Joe's family is hilarious & I'm glad that they all played such a major role in the story, I feel like that gave it something special. Shannon Stacey did an incredible job with each and every character in this book. They were all so perfect that I feel in love with each of them! I'm very excited to read more from this author & this series!

Audrey
Mathews has worked hard to get here. Now she's up for a promotion and
nothing will stand in her way—including Zach Black. He's hot, smart and
the competition. When they're assigned to the same project, she's
shocked at how much she actually likes about him…and how much she
misjudged him.

Before long Audrey is seriously falling for
Zach—and indulging in an affair that's against company policy. And the
stakes rise when it's clear only one of them can get ahead. So where do
they draw the line between competition and love? Especially when she
doesn't want to lose either the promotion or the guy….

I downloaded this book on my kindle based solely on the cover, which I thought was really cute. That being said I didn't really know what to expectbut I did have some ideas once I started reading. I assumed this would be yet another romance about an employee falling for the boss who is determined never to fall in love again. I was pleasantly surprised to find an office rivalry, where both parties were secretly lusting after the other & both were great characters. It was impossible to not love Audrey, with all her family issues & I desperately wanted her and Zach to end up together!

Monday, February 24, 2014

I've seen so many freaky
things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I'm
supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I'm
just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying
to kill me--again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen
Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost
objects--and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in
school. But I'm also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the
worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who
murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom
hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now,
the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the
dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can't use my magic to find.
All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me--and I'm in for the
fight of my life.I think that this book may be my favorite in the series so far. However, there were a lot of times where I felt like Gwen completely missed what was right in front of her. There were a lot of clues that I feel like she should have quickly put together, but in this book her skills seemed to be lacking. The storyline in general was good & full of excitement (I wouldn't expect anything else from Estep!) I really love all of Gwen's friends-Daphne, Carson, Logan...but I'm getting a little tired of the Logan/Gwen drama & I'm hoping that what happened at the end of the book will put an end to all of that. All in all, this book is a perfect addition to the Mythos Academy series!

Friday, February 21, 2014

Callie lost her parents
when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and
sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as
squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would
kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a
disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as
the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to
Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the
money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a
donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and
she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving
her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a
fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more
than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie
could ever have imagined. . .

Let me just start by saying I have no idea why I didn't pick this book up sooner. It was so different from what I was expecting! I was expecting something like the movie The Host (which I hated & no, I haven't read the book) & I was very relieved to find that this book was very different! Callie was an amazingly strong, dynamic character who will do anything for her little brother, a trait I could relate to. The work that is done at Prime Destinations seemed too good to be true from the very beginning & I suspected their goal from the very beginning. One thing that I was not expecting was how Callie's chip malfunctions...I was expecting it to malfunction, however I was not expecting Callie to be able to communicate with her "renter".

Once Callie figures out what Prime Destinations really intends to do she is determined to fight it. I love all the people that come together to help her accomplish this goal & how they actually treat her like she has some value (so vastly different from how the other unclaimed minors are treated by most of society). I thought it would all be over once they seemed to destroy Prime Destinations but it really just left you hungry for Enders, the second book in the series, which I am about to start!

Where We Got It: Our local library-we checked it out based on a Goodreads recommendation!

The Shadow Fold, a
swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on
human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina,
a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into
the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be
the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting
Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and
terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her
destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her
dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood
best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t
she ever quite forget him?

This book is nothing like what I was expecting when I checked it out. I got it on a whim, based on a Goodreads recommendation & I'm glad that I did. It was different and full of drama & mystery. I found myself falling for The Darkling, sure he was just misunderstood & that he deserved for Alina to fall in love with him. He seemed to be struggling with his growing feelings for her and I felt myself rooting for him. Unfortunately I was fooled by him, just as Alina was.

It takes a lot for a book to really surprise me, but this one definitely did! Bardugo did an excellent job weaving a tale of love, mystery, and excitement that is sure to leave every reader desperate for more!

Victor Cale never
imagined that his sweet, shy bride, Isabella, would use her talents for
creating exquisite imitation jewels criminally. But there's no denying
that her handiwork was used in the theft of the Dutch royal diamonds--
right after Isa disappeared into the night.

Ten years later,
Victor is sent to Edinburgh to investigate a wealthy baron's mysterious
bride-to-be... who turns out to be Isa, masquerading as an alluring
widow. No longer the meek girl he once knew, Isa boldly asserts that it
was Victor who abandoned her, after he helped steal the royal diamonds!

Piecing
together the truth of the past reawakens their volatile passions, which
burns hotter than ever. But with a decade of secrets between them,
Victor and Isa must trust each other to bring the real thieves to
justice-- without getting burned themselves.

This is the first book that I have ready by author Sabrina Jeffries & I definitely enjoyed it! I love historical fiction romances & this one was filled with romance, drama, & excitement! Seeing
Victor & Isa fight their attraction for each other, along with
their attempts to figure out what really happened 10 years ago, really
helps the reader to fall in love with this story.

From the very first page I found myself really hoping that Victor & Isa would be able to reunite. It annoyed me that Victor was so determined to think the worst of Isa, even as they got to know each other again & of course Isa still didn't trust him, even after they spent the night together. In the end it is another theft that truly brings them together, which I thought was absolutely perfect!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Our Rating: 5 stars!
When Sybella arrived
at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the
convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The
sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled
in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their
most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little
comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her
mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's
love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally
she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than
vengeance to live for...

When I first picked up this book I must admit I was disappointment because I was hoping it would continue Ismae's story. I hadn't really liked the glimpses of Sybella we were given in Grave Mercy, however I was determined to give this book a try. I never expected to love it even more than the first.

Dark Triumph starts with some overlap from Grave Mercy, but told from Sybella's perspective. She has been forced to go back to the family that raised her, to the very man who is trying to force the Duchess into marriage so he can control the country.There are so many secrets that come to light that really explain how Sybella became a deadly assassin & it is impossible not to fall in love with her. Her relationship with Beast is such a huge part of the book & rightly so! The two seem to be cut from the same cloth and are the perfect pair, saving one another several times throughout the book.

This series so far has proven to be quite a surprise, with its unique storyline and dynamic characters, it is impossible not to become completely hooked!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Riley McKenna knows sex—good sex, bad sex, kinky sex…Her articles in Stiletto
magazine are consistently the publication’s most scandalous—and the
most read. But Riley has a secret…all that sexy talk? Not an ounce of it
comes from personal experience. Her own bedroom escapades are more
limited than even her best friends know. When her editor requests that
all columnists write something more personal for Stiletto’s anniversary issue, Riley turns to the one man she’s always been able to count on and calls in the favor of a lifetime.

Sam
Compton would do anything for Riley McKenna. Anything except be her
experimental sex toy. He refuses her request. At least until she tells
him that it’ll either be him or she’ll go to someone else. And that, Sam
can’t accept. Reluctantly he agrees to her terms—one night of
completely meaningless sex in the name of research. Riley thinks she’s
prepared for what awaits her in Sam’s bed. After ten years of writing
about sex, actually doing it shouldn’t be that different, right? So
wrong. What starts as “one time only” becomes “just one more time.” And
then one more. And before they know it, Riley and Sam learn first-hand
that when it comes to love, there’s no such thing as just one night.Book 3 in the Sex, Love, & Stiletto series is even better than book 2, which I wasn't even sure was possible. Riley, Stiletto magazine's resident sex expert has been keeping a major secret from everyone: the articles she writes aren't from personal experience. In fact her experience is limited to only having sex once in college & it wasn't even good sex. Now that the company is about to come out with their 50th anniversary issue she has to write a more personal article and she has no idea what to do. When Riley decides to proposition Sam, her brother's best friend & the guy she has been secretly in love with for ten years, things get a little crazy! I honestly loved absolutely everything about this book. The love the author & her absolutely stunning love stories! I'm in love with the Stiletto girls & I honestly don't even think I can pick a favorite, which is new for me! I love romances where the two main characters start out as friends & then struggle as their feelings grow/develop. Riley is sassy, sexy, & funny-it is impossible not to fall completely in love with her. Sam is loyal & sweet but struggles with some insecurities that cause some real problems for him & Riley. I love how they were had both been secretly in love with each other for ten years. When they finally got together it was pure magic!

When Sheikh Sharif
offers Irene Taylor more money as chaperone to his sister than she's
ever made before, she can't refuse—finally she'll safeguard her family.
Irene may be innocent, but she knows the trail of destruction playboys
like Sharif leave behind, and will resist his skilled seduction….

Sharif
excels at everything he does—especially in the bedroom! His engagement
hasn't yet been announced and he'll enjoy his freedom until then.
Starting with the beguiling Irene—she's the ideal final challenge before
he embarks on a life of duty.

But sometimes even the plans of a sheikh go awry

When Sharif see's Irene at a mutual friend's wedding he is instantly intrigued by her and is determined to get her into bed. Little does he know that Irene is nothing like his usual conquests! Even though she is attracted to him she stands her ground and refuses to compromise her morals, which I love. I love that she has such a great view on love and refuses to be swayed by his attempts at seduction! When his engagement was brought up I knew that the woman who he was supposed to marry (whom he hated & who shared the same feelings for him) was hiding something, I just wasn't sure what it was. I thought what ended up happening was perfect & it ended exactly how I wanted it to! I've read several romances by author Jennie Lucas & I have to say this one doesn't disappoint! The only reason it didn't receive 5-stars was because some of it was just too predictable, but it is definitely worth reading!

Favorite Quote: "Compliments from men were about as reliable as the relatiopnships on The Bachelor."

As a leading columnist for Stiletto,
Grace Brighton has built a career warning women about rotten, cheating
liars. She just never suspected her fiancé would be one of them. After
Grace takes a heart-mending hiatus, her first assignment is to go on a
couple of dates with a counterpart from the men's magazine Oxford
and report her impressions. Grace 1.0 may have been instantly smitten
with the gorgeous correspondent, but Grace 2.0 has sworn off
relationships for six months, and she's not falling for his outstanding
bod and trophy-winning kisses... or is she?

Jake Malone wants to get back to the fly-by-night, who-knows-what's-next guy he used to be, and he knows exactly how to do it. Oxford
is adding a travel section, and Jake—with no wife and no kids and a
willingness to live anywhere, eat anything, do everything—is perfect for
the job... except that his playboy reputation makes his new editor
nervous. To get the gig, he must agree to a fluffy joint article with Stiletto.

But
after just one date with snooty, sumptuous, sensational Grace Brighton,
Jake starts taking this assignment a whole lot more seriously..

This book reminded me a little bit about How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, which I absolutely loved! Grace is trying to change her life after discovering that the man she had been with for 9 years was secretly sleeping with one of his co-workers. I love all of the internal conflict between Grace 1.0 & Grace 2.0. It was a unique part of the book & I feel like it really gave the reader a better insight into what Grace was thinking. When Jake & Grace both agreed to take on this new assignment they had no idea that they had met before & they never imagined that they would end up developing really feelings for each other. Grace is determined to prove that she is still an expert on what men are really thinking & Jake just wants to win the competition so that he can take over the brand new travel section of Oxford. From the beginning it was clear that Jake & Grace were perfect for each other! They had such amazing chemistry that it just jumped off the page. Their dates, both for the competition and the ones that they kept secret, were sweet & entertaining. I especially loved the tricks that they played on one another. Of course you can't have a romance with out some steamy scenes & theirs were absolutely perfect! I can't wait to read book 3 in the Sex, Love, & Stiletto series!

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Our Rating: 4 stars Haven Terra is a brainy,
shy high school outcast. But everything changes when she is awarded a
prestigious internship at a posh Chicago hotel under the watchful eyes
of a group of gorgeous strangers: the powerful and alluring hotel owner
Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and
their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As
Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful
people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book,
she uncovers the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the
business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them
in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this
devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night
at the hotel?

When I started this book I wasn't even sure that I would finish it. It started out slow and I was worried that it wouldn't pick up or be able to hold my interest, however it managed to surprise me. Once it started to pick upit quickly took off and I found myself hooked. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that it took a little while to put all the pieces together and figure out exactly what was going on. The reader can tell very quickly that something isn't right, but it takes a little while before its revealed exactly what kind of secrets are being hidden. Although the book manages to wrap things up pretty nicely it definitely leaves you wanting more & I can't wait to start book two!

After being dropped from one band, 17-year-old drummer Zach gets a chance to go on tour with a much better band. It feels like sweet redemption, but this is one rocky road trip. . . .

Zach's
in control on the drums, driving the band, keeping things moving at the
right pace. But when the show is over, his timing is all off. The
jealousies and rivalries within his new group keep him off-balance. The
awesome original song he recorded backfires. And the girl he left back
home is suddenly talking about this other guy . . .

Mark
Parsons has written a fast-paced, feel-good novel about a boy finding
his place in the world, in a band, and in the music. Zach is a character
teens will stand up and cheer for as he lands the perfect gig, and the
perfect girl.I have to start by saying my favorite part of this book were the drummer jokes that popped up periodically! Their presence in the book gave it something special, which I really liked. I loved Zach from the beginning, as he struggled with musical self-esteem & finding his place after losing his band and his best friend. I knew that when he joined the new band there would be issues & it played out exactly like I thought it had!I feel like this book was more of a guy-read, but I still enjoyed it!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

The wonderful Maria V. Snyder has graciously given us a signed copy of her book Poison Studyto give away to one lucky winner!!

About Poison Study.....

Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison...

About
to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve.
She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk
assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And
so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security,
leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and
only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing
death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma,
disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops
magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and
choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear..

Make sure to check out our review of Poison Study & if you've read it let us know what you think!

Monday, February 10, 2014

About to be executed
for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the
best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone
trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to
become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to
chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing
for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the
poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep
mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers
she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be
made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear..

You would think that being a food taster would be much better than being locked in a dungeon and eventually executed. Unfortunately for Yelena she is still very much a prisoner and is constantly having to worry about who will try to kill her next. Attempts on her life seem to happen frequently, regardless of the fact that Valek, the head of the Commander's security, is protecting her.

In the beginning he doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with her, probably because she killed a man (which was the reason she was sentenced to death). The Commander sees crime as black & white, he doesn't care why you committed a crime or even if it was an accident or self defense. Yelena soon wins the respect and loyalty of Ari & Janco, two solders who make it their mission to protect her and who agree to help train her to fight. At one point in the story I found myself wondering which of the three men Yelena might end up with and although I was sure it would be Valek I would have been happy with any of the three men, who I grew to love just as much as Yelena did.

When the Commander begins to act strangely and General Brazell (whose psycho son Yelena killed) is appointed his successor, Yelena and Valek are sure that something is going on. Yelena begins to suspect that it is some type of magic that is controlling the commander, but she can't even begin to image how crazy it will get! In order to stop Brazell's plans Yelena has to tell Valek what happened to her while she was under his care and his response reinforces how much he really cares about her.

I thought the story was amazing, from beginning to end. All of the main characters (Yelena, Valek, Ari, Janco, Rand) were amazingly unique and so well developed. The villains in the story were also more than meets the eye, which I also loved. The only thing that really kept me from giving this story 5 stars was how the relationship between Yelena & Valek progressed. It was all going pretty well until suddenly, with the flip of a switch, they went from occasionally flirting to being in love with each other. I wish it hadn't gone from luke-warm to hot so quickly.

I'm eager to read the next two books in the series & can't wait for book four to come out this year!

When
designer Eva St. George, branded wild and shameless by the media, is
caught with tycoon Dante Vitale, it's guaranteed to make the headlines.
With a fledgling reputation to salvage, how can Eva refuse Dante's exit
strategy?

Only, his solution is not to leave but to stay—together!

This
ruthless Italian's sole focus is business, and if they can convince the
world they're truly in love, they both just might get what they want.
With enough heat between them to rival the Sahara, the fine line between
business and pleasure is going up in flames.

I must say that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I loved Eva & I thought that her & Dante seemed perfect together. The chemistry between the two was fun to read & the storyline was interesting too. It had some interesting aspects that I wasn't expecting. I'm glad that I picked it up on this cold, snowy day!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Our Rating: 4 starsLast spring, Nikki
Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now
she's returned-to her old life, her family, her boyfriend-before she's
banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six
months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes
she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it
exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the
Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person
most devastated by her disappearance-and the one person she loves more
than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering
immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has
followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the
underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And
he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As
Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships
begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest
decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface
with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.

I have to admit that I was
attracted to this book because of the gorgeous cover. I didn't even read
the back of it or look it up on Goodreads like I usually do. The cover
had me completely sucked in. When I first started reading it I wasn't
sure what to expected. I did have trouble getting into the book in the
beginning but I soon found myself enthralled by the story.

One
thing that I really liked about this book is how it jumped back and
forth from past to present as Nikki dealt with different memories and
emotions. I loved her interactions with both Jack and Cole, although it
was often hard not to hate Cole! The end of this book has me anxious to
read book two in the trilogy!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Lessons in passion… Anna is moments
away from securing her dream teaching job and a new life until it's all
ripped away. And there's only one man to blame.

Former racing
driver Cesare Urquart believes Anna Henderson is the woman who nearly
ended his best friend's marriage. He's never forgotten her lithe figure
and flowing red hair.

But when Anna arrives at his sprawling
Scottish estate under his sister's employment, Cesare gets a rush of
adrenaline he hasn't felt for years. Soon he questions every notion
he's had about her. For beneath Anna's feistiness is an irresistible
innocence Cesare can't leave unexplored….

I must admit Harlequin Romances are my guilty pleasure read. I like that no matter what happens, the couple always seems to live happily ever after. Of course I do like it when the journey to their happy ending is entertaining & this book just didn't really do it for me. It was definitely better than the last few Harlequin's I have read but it was a storyline I feel like I've read before. I just wasn't impressed and was unable to connect with the characters.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

I’m Gwen Frost, a
second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea
how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m
get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the
drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble
archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get
prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a
Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to
live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

Kiss of Frost is the
second book in the Mythos Academy series, which focuses on Gwen Frost,
as she learns how to use her gypsy gifts and navigate this new world she
has found herself thrown into. Gwen discovers a lot about herself, her
past, and who she can trust in this book, which is the perfect addition
to the series. I love Gwen, Logan, and Daphne and all their interactions
with each other. The more I read the more I hope that Gwen and Logan
can overcome their obstacles and end up together. I also find myself
hoping that Daphne is who she says she is, a true friend to Gwen, but in
the back of my mind I am wondering if she will turn out to be an enemy
instead of a friend. I can't wait to start book three!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Lieutenant Michael Thorpe is a forbidden temptation for Lady Hannah
Chesterfield. Etiquette demands Hannah ignore the shivers of desire his
wicked gaze provokes, but he's the only man to recognize her restless
spirit, and her unawakened body is clamoring for his touch….

Thrown
together by scandal, a defiant Hannah joins Michael on an adventure to
uncover the secret of his birth—is this common soldier really a prince?
If so, will the ordinary man who has taught Hannah the meaning of
pleasure now make her his royal bride?

I have to start by saying that I really like the cover of this book and that is actually why I decided to read it. I really enjoy Historical Romance books but I have to admit I'm very picky. I only like certain time periods and I LOVE anything that has to do with royalty.

I liked this book immediately and loved how Hannah and Michael's relationship developed. This book had a lot of twists and turns and it kept me wanting to keep reading! I did get frustrated with how Hannah & Michael both seemed unwilling to actually tell the other what they were really feeling and what they wanted but I loved how it ended!

An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.But her heart never wavers.

After
a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old
assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new
royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret
she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the
deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her
in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could
jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more
dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to
destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a
choice.

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

How do you write a review for one of the greatest books you've ever read?

I gave Throne of Glass 5 stars, so after reading Crown of Midnight I was at a loss because what is better than 5 stars?!? I had no idea that I could even love a book as much as I loved this one. Celaena & her secrets combined with the changes in her relationship with Chaol had me unable to put this book down. I loved watching as their relationship changed in both good & bad ways. The definitely tragedies/dilemmas that they had to endure would be a challenge for any relationship.

One of my favorite things about this book was that you got to see Celaena do what she does best: manipulate, spy, and even kill. Watching her put the pieces together about the danger that was coming was so thrilling & even though I didn't like what had to happen in order for her to embrace her destiny I am glad that she finally did. Little clues throughout the story kind of tip you off to how the book is going to end but it is still crazy when you get to that point!

The only bad thing about this book was that I am now desperate to read Heir of Fire, which doesn't come out until the fall!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

After serving out a year
of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old
assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince
Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his
champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents
are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each
sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents
in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years
and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training
sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and
exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little
more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but
it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can
Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As
the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a
greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

There are so many things I
could say about this book that I'm not really sure where to start. I
stumbled across this book by pure accident when browsing the shelves of
my local library. I checked it out, along with a handful of other books,
without really knowing what to expect. That night we were hit with a
huge snowstorm/blizzard and I was given plenty of time to start reading!

From the very first page of Throne of Glass
I was completely hooked. The story was different than any I had read
and I immediately fell in love with the spirited assassin, Celaena
Sardothien. She is strong, smart, and could kill you before you even
knew what hit you. Prince Dorian seems to be everything you would expect
from a Prince and I enjoyed how he and Celaena interacted throughout
the book. When Dorian pulls Celaena out of the prison camp Endovier, she has
no idea what to expect but she immediately starts thinking of ways to
escape. Captain Chaol Westfall she's Celaena as nothing more than a
trained killer & he intends to make sure that she makes it back to
the palace for the King's competition. I love the relationship between
Celaena & Chaol. I'm hoping that as the books progress they get
closer and I will admit I'm hoping they end up together in the end!